House unites against Electricity (Amendment) Bill

Unanimous resolution passed demanding that Centre withdraw it

The Kerala Assembly on Thursday unanimously passed a resolution demanding the Centre to withdraw the Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2021. The resolution presented by Minister for Electricity K. Krishnankutty and passed by the ruling LDF and Opposition UDF members noted that the proposed amendments would render cost-effective electricity inaccessible to farmers and weaker sections of society. It would bring about a situation where private players corner the profits at the cost of the public sector and lead to hike in tariffs, it said. Furthermore, the proposed amendments encroach upon the powers of State governments in matters pertaining to electricity and seeks to vest total control in the Centre. In going ahead with the Bill, the Centre had ignored the objections raised by Kerala. Usurping the powers of States in this matter would serve only to weaken the federal structure, the resolution said.